Different Bhashyakars have given different definition and classification of “Tatva”. Acharya condemning all the Bhashyakaars, gave a fine definition of the “Tatva” in his great grantha – Tatva Sankyana, where he classified the tatvas as ONLY TWO. i.e., “Svatantra” and “Aswatantra”

स्वतंत्रो भगवान् विष्णु: – Only Srihari is Svatantra – that means all others are are asvatantraas – all others are dependent.

From the word Bhagavaan – “Bhag” indicates – all 6 in one – i.e., Prabhutva, veerya, yashassu, sampattu, jnaana and vairagya. As he has all the six characters named above, he is called as Bhagavan.

From the word “Vishnu” – it indicates Srihari is sarva vyaapi – his vyaptatva is throughout – i.e., there is nothing where there is no existence for him

Srihari is THE only Svatantra tatva and all others are classified as “Aswatantra” tatva. By using the word “ಇಷ್ಯತೇ””इष्यते”, Acharya Madhwa says that the same is honoured by Vedas/Upanishads. He further classifies that Bhagavan Vishnu is the only Svatantra. He further classified the Aswatantra Tatva as “Bhaava” and “Abhaava”.

What is Bhaava and Abhaava भावाभावौ? –

“Bhaava” means that which is in existence and is known from the first knowledge itself and “Abhaava” means that which is not in existence.

“Abhaava” is further classified into three groups, viz., “Pragaabhaava”, “pradhvamsaabhaava” and “sadaabhaava“. Sri Vedavyasyaru in his grantha “Tatva Viveka” which Acharya Madhwa has provided as documentary proof in his another grantha “Tatva Viveka” has also defined the said “Abhaava” as three viz., Poorvaabhaava, Aparaabhaava and sadaabhaava.

1. Pragaabhaava or Poorvaabhaava – Previous negation – i.e., Abhaava before the appearance of a product – eg., before the birth of a child, that child upto its birth is called as Pragaabhaava.

2. Pradhvamsaabhava or Aparaabhaava – Later negation – i.e., Abhaava after the disappearance of a product – eg., after a person dies, that person after his death is called as pradhvamsaabhaava

3. Sadaabhaava – Total negation – The one which Never exist – absence present at all three times i.e., past, present and future. That is why it is called Sadaabhaava. – eg – the horn of a rabbit (“ಮೊಲದ ಕೋಡು”). No rabbit will ever have horn. As such, it is never exists. i.e., sadaabhaava.

“Bhaava” is further classified into two : i.e., “chetana” and “achetana” – चेतन , अचेतन – i.e., – चेतयति इति चेतन: अचेतयति इति अचेतन: – Chetana is the one which is subject to consciousness and the Achetana the one which is not subject to consciousness.